piston

pis·ton

1. A solid cylinder or disk that fits snugly into a larger cylinder and moves under fluid pressure, as in a reciprocating engine, or displaces or compresses fluids, as in pumps and compressors.

2. Music A valve mechanism in brass instruments for altering the pitch.

[French, from Italian pistone, pestone, large pestle, from pestare, to pound, crush, from Late Latin pistāre, frequentative of Latin pīnsere, pīnsāre.]

piston

(ˈpɪstən)

n

(Automotive Engineering) a disc or cylindrical part that slides to and fro in a hollow cylinder. In an internal-combustion engine it is forced to move by the expanding gases in the cylinder head and is attached by a pivoted connecting rod to a crankshaft or flywheel, thus converting reciprocating motion into rotation

[C18: via French from Old Italian pistone, from pistare to pound, grind, from Latin pinsere to crush, beat]

pis•ton

(ˈpɪs tən)

n.

1. a disk or solid cylinder moving within a longer cylinder and exerting pressure on, or receiving pressure from, a fluid or gas.

Pis•ton

(ˈpɪs tən)

n.

Walter, 1894–1976, U.S. composer.

piston

The fuel-air mixture in the left-hand chamber expands when ignited by the spark plug, pushing the piston down and turning the shaft to which it is attached. The turning shaft drives the piston in the right-hand cylinder upward. It will then be pushed down in the same way when the fuel-air mixture enters that chamber and is ignited. The alternating action of the two pistons keeps the shaft turning.

pis·ton

(pĭs′tən)

A solid cylinder or disk that fits snugly into a hollow cylinder and moves back and forth under the pressure of a fluid, as in many engines, or moves or compresses a fluid, as in a pump or compressor.

He seemed to come from the humming oily centre of the machine where the polished rods are sliding, and the pistons thumping; he grasped things so firmly but so loosely; he made the others appear like old maids cheapening remnants.

There was some talk about turbine engines, direct application of steam, and the absence of pistons, rods, and cranks,--all of which was beyond me, for I was familiar only with sailing craft; but I did understand the last words of the engineer.

And the hulking figure advanced on tiptoe, like a performing elephant, until just at the open door, when for a second we saw his left revolving like a piston and his head thrown back at its fighting angle.

It had a black canal in it, and a river that ran purple with ill-smelling dye, and vast piles of building full of windows where there was a rattling and a trembling all day long, and where the piston of the steam-engine worked monotonously up and down, like the head of an elephant in a state of melancholy madness.

So if bottom of piston is too cold then full-air mixture will not burn and it will be send out through exhaust pipe and as a result efficiency of motor will decrease for controlling expansion of pistons they are cut in such way that they can have a kind of elliptical chamber.

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